Biological Conservation Newsletter

No. 225September 2003

In This Issue

The membership of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB) has overwhelmingly voted to change its name to the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC). The journal Biotropica will now have a new section on conservation topics. These new developments reflect the changes occurring in the research of Association members. The Association and the journal will still publish and celebrate high-quality research in tropical biology. At the same time, it is recognized that in most, if not all, tropical systems, human impacts along with natural ecological factors determine which species are present and how the biological community is structured and functions. Many members of the Association already investigate these impacts, and are restoring the damage that has been done. The change in name will help identify the Association and journal with this expanding focus of inquiry and research. Conservation research was well-reflected at the symposia held in the three past meetings held in Scotland, Panama, and Bangalore, and is apparent in the articles being published in Biotropica. Further symposia and workshops in upcoming meetings will continue this direction. The following are a few of the major themes which ATBC will take up in coming years.

Threats to tropical ecosystems: destruction. Everywhere we look as tropical ecologists, we see habitats in peril, from forests to coral reefs to mangroves to tropical alpine zones. In many tropical countries of the world, particularly on islands and in locations where human population density is high, most of the original forest habitat has already been destroyed. These high rates of habitat destruction affect species extinction and ecosystem processes, and represent major topics for tropical ecologists.

Fragmentation. Even where habitat remains it is often extensively fragmented. Experimental studies carried out in the Amazon and elsewhere show that when a habitat is fragmented, the potential for dispersal and colonization of plants and animals is reduced. Fragmentation also changes the microenvironment at the fragment edge, impacting species composition. As large tropical areas are increasingly fragmented over large areas by logging, road construction and other human activities, we need to know how this affects the ecology of the region.

Hunting. Even where habitats still appear intact, many tropical animals are being threatened with extinction, due to ever increasing intensities of harvesting. In recent decades, human populations in tropical areas have increased, the use of the environment by people has escalated, and methods of harvesting have become dramatically more efficient. The extreme overhunting of animals throughout tropical regions, both for local consumption and for sale in towns, has been labeled the "bushmeat crisis." This crisis has become a cause for concern by conservation organizations and represents a major topic for research.

National parks and local people. There is currently a vigorous debate about the best ways to conserve tropical biodiversity, a debate in which many members of ATB are already involved. Major areas of disagreement include the relative effectiveness of traditional national parks and community-based conservation initiatives, the role of indigenous people in protected areas, and the effectiveness of forest certification and similar initiatives in promoting sustainable use of tropical habitats.

The change in the name of the Association reflects the ongoing process of review of research priorities in tropical biology being carried out by the ATBC Council, the Officers, and various colleagues. Many of the priorities being discussed are related to conservation issues, as described above. Further details are posted on the ATBC website <http://www.atbio.org>.

The Kaua'i Native Plant Society in collaboration with the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is bringing a collection of some 60 rare and endangered native Hawaiian plant species to the Garden in Washington, D.C. The plants will be the centerpiece of an exhibit titled Our Nation's Crown Jewels: Rare and Endangered Species of Hawai'i and will remain on display in the USBG Conservatory from 29 August through 23 November 2003. The exhibit, produced through the cooperation of 12 organizations under the aegis of Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc., coincides with the year 2003 being the "Year of the Hawaiian Forest."

Paired with Our Nation's Crown Jewels will be an exhibit of photographic portraits of rare Hawaiian plants and animals. Titled Remains of a Rainbow, these photographs by David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton will be on display in the West Orangerie of the USBG Conservatory from 29 August through 11 January 2004.

Today, Hawai'i is home to a wealth of biodiversity and home to many species found nowhere else on Earth. It has more rare and endangered species than any other state in the union. The plants in the exhibit have been chosen to represent four distinct habitats: wet forest, mesic forest, dryland forest, and coastal lowland. A series of interpretive panels will explain how the unique flora of the Hawaiian Islands is threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and other factors. The exhibit will underscore how these factors are impacting flora worldwide.

Cousins, S.A.O., Lavorel, S., and Davies, I. 2003. Modelling the effects of landscape pattern and grazing regimes on the persistence of plant species with high conservation value in grasslands in south-eastern Sweden. Landscape Ecol. 18(3):315-332.

Garnett, S.T., Crowley, G.M., and Stattersfield, A.J. 2003. Changes in the conservation status of Australian birds resulting from differences in taxonomy, knowledge and the definitions of threat. Biol. Conserv. 113(2):269-276.

Gurdebeke, S., De Bakker, D., Vanlanduyt, N., and Maelfait, J.P. 2003. Plans for a large regional forest in eastern Flanders (Belgium): assessment of spider diversity and community structure in the current forest remnants. Biodivers. Conserv. 12(9):1883-1900.

Hadjikyriakou, G., and Hadjisterkotis, E. 2002. The adventive plants of Cyprus with new records of invasive species. Z. Jagdwiss. 48:59-71.

Hale, M.L., and Lurz, P.W.W. 2003. Morphological changes in a British mammal as a result of introductions and changes in landscape management: the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). J. Zool. 260:159-167.

Hoskin, C.J., Couper, P.J., and Schneider, C.J. 2003. A new species of Phyllurus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) and a revised phylogeny and key for the Australian leaf-tailed geckos. Aust. J. Zool. 51(2):153-164.

Papadopoulos, M.C. 2002. Evaluation of Theodorou island as a habitat for the conservation of the Cretan wild goat (Capra aegagrus cretica Schinz 1938) and the impact of grazing on vegetation. Z. Jagdwiss. 48:130-139.

Peterson, E.B., and McCune, B. 2003. The importance of hotspots for lichen diversity in forests of Western Oregon. Bryologist 106(2):246-256.

Puyravaud, J.P., Davidar, P., Pascal, J.P., and Ramesh, B.R. 2003. Analysis of threatened endemic trees of the Western Ghats of India sheds new light on the Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Biodivers. Conserv. 12(10):2091-2106.

Tidon, R., Leite, D.F., and Leão, B.F.D. 2003. Impact of the colonisation of Zaprionus (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in different ecosystems of the Neotropical Region: 2 years after the invasion. Biol. Conserv. 112(3):299-305.

Walker, N.F., Hulme, P.E., and Hoelzel, A.R. 2003. Population genetics of an invasive species, Heracleum mantegazzianum: implications for the role of life history, demographics and independent introductions. Mol. Ecol. 12(7):1747-1756.